Grown-Up

FROM MWB ARCHIVES (Oct 2010). Parents ultimately want their kids to grow-up. Why, through the growing years, we even tell them to “grow-up" then ... they do. That's when we begin to miss those not-so-grown-up days! God’s children look so much better ... grown-up!  Growing up is tough, of course.  We can remember the physical and emotional growing pains from adolescence to young adult to adult. It’s the natural progression of life – especially the spiritual life.  It’s just not pretty when Believers remain in spiritual infancy.  No one likes the same wardrobe year-after-year. Even those who hate to shop occasionally wander through a store in search of something new and fresh!  Ephesians 4:15 tells us we are to grow up “in every way” into Christ.  Never should Christians be dressed-down from lack of sweet fellowship with The Father.  Spurgeon wrote, “If we would ripen in grace, we must live near to Jesus – in His presence – ripened by the sunshine of His smiles.”  A new season has arrived and as we bring out warmer clothing, consider if your spiritual wardrobe is last season’s.  A grown-up look in Christ is hard but it looks so good on us!

The Lighted Path

From MWB Archives (October 2010). My Dad and I drove to Houston, Texas in June 1995, staying each night at one of his favorite motel chains.  Dad realy liked the nightly price but he especially liked the motel chain’s byline, "we'll keep the light on for you." In his gospel, John contrasts differences in life and death, faith and unbelief, truth and lies, light and darkness. The distinction between light and darkness marked how light is necessary to see things as God sees them.  It is darkness that distorts the reality of what is right and wrong.  The illumination we receive through Christ and His Word, however, strips away worldly illusions revealing spiritual reality – genuine righteousness.  John 8:12 says, “I am the light of the world.  He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”  Now, who wants to walk in darkness!  The other day I maneuvered my way down a flight of stairs in the darkness, which made me think of John’s illustration of “walking in darkness.”  Steps aren’t really my friend these days anyway; to factor in darkness – well, it was a struggle.  When we choose to walk in darkness, we expose ourselves to stumbling and to falling. In contrast, when we embrace the “light of life,” that life-giving light, we see clearly.  Suddenly, we are able to make wise and right decisions.  Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” How absolutely crucial we make God’s Word a priority instead of relying on our own pathetic [at best] wisdom and judgment. Which walking path have you chosen? Choose the lighted one ... the Light is always on!

Your Resemblance

From MWB Archives - Oct 2010. The younger Mister Bill was quite the letter-writer. Four grades ahead of me and in a different school, he figured out how to courier a letter to me each day.  I can’t remember what he wrote, but I do remember how much I liked getting those notes! God’s children have been given a particular pattern for living.  We are to have the lifestyle that imitates Jesus.  Everyone knows what it is to be a son or a daughter; our birth certificates bear the name of a biological mother and father.  So the souls of the Saints (the saved, redeemed) bear the Name of the One Most High, and we are thus identified as as His.  God's Word says, “Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High." (Luke 6:35). These weren’t suggestions to sinners telling them how to behave, rather reminders to Believers to be who they are in Christ!  Loving an enemy certainly isn’t the world’s way, but God’s way; doing good isn’t so common, but a characteristic of God; to give expecting nothing in return may not sound sensible yet it's pleasing to God.  When we do-life God’s way, we’re rewarded far greater than we can imagine.  Also, we are specifically marked by God and others as genuine disciples - true followers of Jesus. Those Mister Bill letters thrilled my heart and I found a sense of acceptance in his words; over time I learned there was a genuine resemble between his words and his affection.  A true follower of Jesus will bears the mark of The Father.  Consider ... your resemblance.

Our Keeper

Have you ever traveled through a dense area where the trees and undergrowth was so dense you hardly knew where you had been and where you were going. Then unexpectedly, the road opened up to an opening dotted with beautiful flowers and soothing and refreshing waters. This describes mine and Mister Bill's favorite resort; the thought of it right now makes me homesick for it. That long winding narrow overgrown trek through the jungle makes me think of how the journey of life. Difficult seasons filled with troubles can leave us dry and longing for an ... oasis - a green area fed by natural flowing waters giving shade and rest to weary travelers. One of my Mom's favorite passages was Psalm 121 where the psalmist declares his help comes from the LORD: "He will not let your foot be moved; He Who keeps you will not slumber ... The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand ... The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life ... The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore." (Verses 3-8 ESV). Wherever life's road goes - twisting, turning, curving, ascending, descending - God's children are always in His care and keeping. I find this truth particularly reassuring especially when life is overgrown with hurt, betrayal, and disappointment. God, our Keeper, is never surprised or blind-sided by anything: "Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure." (Psalm 147:5). Yes, our omniscient (all-knowing) God longs to and is fully able to keep us. He is ... our Keeper.

Yes, I Will!

Something I've heard said from those who reach a certain age or season in life is this: "if I don't want to do it, I just don't it." This older-me has had the same sort of thoughts and [maybe on occasion] even acted accordingly. Now, I don't presume nor pretend to be a Bible scholar but I can't find any Scriptural foundation for that attitude! However, the very opposite seems to be what pleases God; David wrote, "I will give thanks and praise the LORD ... I will tell aloud all Your wonders and marvelous deeds ... I will rejoice and exult in You ... I will sing praise to Your Name." (Psalm 9:1-2 AMP). It is evident from David's words that he is determined to do these things, disciplined and determined even though he may not feel like it! Like David, the times of our lives are not always pleasant or easy; at every age and in every season, trouble is present. In those times, we usually prefer to grumble and complain and even question God. Only a few verses later, David writes: "The LORD also will be a refuge and a stronghold for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your Name [who have experienced Your precious mercy] will put their confident trust in You. For You, O LORD, have not abandoned those who seek You." (Psalm 9:9-10 AMP). When we don't-want-to is exactly the time to do what is pleasing to God! The memory of God's eternal goodness and faithful presence is good exercise and is enough to overcome the I-don't-want-to-do-it attitude. With David's determination, let us seek The LORD and say ... yes, I will!